Oil burner



y 1940- H. M. REEVES 7,553

OIL BURNER Filed July 19, 1937 L ge @255 M feel/ea Patented July; 9, 1940 UNITED STATES OIL BURNER Herbert M. Reeves, Kankakee, Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, to James L. Bre'ese, Santa Fe, N. Mex, and Oil Devices, Santa Fe, N. Men,

a limited partnership Application July 19, 193], Serial No. 154,410

13 Claims. (Cl. 158-91) My invention relates to burners for liquid fuel and relates more particularly to burners of the pot type specially adapted for the consumption of oil Pot type burners have been known for many years but have been subject to certain disadvantages. An important objection to this type of burner in the forms previously known has been that such devices did not function elflciently at a low rate of fuel feed. Even in the case of devices which operated satisfactorily with .high fuel consumption, when the fuel was turned down to a comparatively small ratio to the normal feed, the flame would either go out or else the fuel would burn with a flickering, yellow flame of low thermal efliciency and with a large deposit of carbon.

A special object of my invention is to provide a device of the type referred to which will be capable of effecting efiicientcombustion of oil fuels with a normal feed as well as with intermediate and low rates of feed. In other words, devices embodying my invention have what is known in the industry as a high "turn-down ratio.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the type referred-to which will be simple and inexpensive in construction:

Various other objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring now to the drawing forming a part of this specification and illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a pot burner embodying my invention, certain parts being broken away for added simplicity;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a baille plate comprising an element of my invention.

The numeral Ill indicates a pot or container wherein combustion takes place. Although I have shown this pot in a simple and substantially standard form it will be understood that the same may be modified in various ways and still come within the spirit of my invention. In the embodiment shown, the pot is substantially cylindrical, having a bottom wall II and a side wall l2 provided with vertically and horizontally spaced apertures l5, said apertures being arranged in horizontal rows, and said wall l2 ter 'minating at the top in an outwardly extending flange IS. The side wall is provided at or near the bottom with anopening to which is connected a threaded nipple Ill whereby fuel is introduce'd into the bottom of the pot. At the top of the pot, resting on the flange 6, is an annular plate l9 having a depending. positioning flange l9.

Arranged within the chamber or pot I is a plurality of baffles 20 arranged in staggered relation to each other. It will .be noted by reference to Fig. 3 that each of the baflles 20 is substantially arcuate in form, defining an annular segment. In the embodiment shown the bailles 10 20 are stamped out of sheet metal or the like and are preferably formed with a continuous peripheral flange 2| for stiffening against the warping effects of heat. It will be understood, however, that the baflies may be cast or formed in any other suitable manner. Each baffle is preferably provided-with an outwardly extending boss 23 at each end, whereby said bafiie plates are spaced inwardly from the wall l2 of the pot, as defined by the space 25.

The baffles are supported in the following manner: Each plate 20 is provided with an aperture 26 spaced a like distance from each end and through these apertures extends a stud 30. Each of the studs 30 carries a slotted head 3| on its lower end and is threaded at its upper end as at 32. Sleeves 35 are loosely arranged on the studs 30, said sleeves serving to support the baffle plates 20 and to maintain them in properly'spaced relation, nuts 36 being threaded onto the ends of the studs to maintain all of the parts in properly assembled relation.

It will be seen that I have provided the baffle plates 20 in oppositely disposed pairs, the pairs being arranged in staggered horizontal relation at'different levels. Thus the bafiies 20a and 201) are disposed opposite each'other at a given level, another pair 200 and 20d being disposed opposite each other on a lower level, but on the same level with each other,-said bailles 20c and 20d 40 being staggered angularly with reference to the baffles 201:. and- 20b so as to register vertically with the spaces between said baiiles 20a and 20b. Similarly, baflies 20c. and 20f are arranged opposite each other' in vertically spaced relation to the baffles 20c and 20d and angularly staggered with reference thereto, the baflles 20c and 20 being disposed substantially in vertical registry with the baflies 20a and 20b, and so on. Thus I have provided a series of fragmentary staggered anx nular baflie plates at different levels within the pot, said plates defining a central combustion zone extending vertically from the top of the burner to the lowest point at which combustion can efficiently be maintained. I

Although I have provided in the embodiment shown that each of the plates 20 be of such length as to subtend approximately,90 (this approximately being the are between the holes 26), it will be understood that this length of arc has been chosen merely for convenience. The plates might be of any desired length, so .long as they are interrupted, whereby the flame and gases may easily risefrom lower to higher levels.

It will be seen from an inspection of Fig. 2 that apertures l5 are provided below each pair of bafiles and that a row of apertures is also preferably provided between the uppermost bafiles 20a and 20b and the top edge of the pot.

The operation ofthe device will be apparent from what has gone before. Fuel is fed through nipple I8 and vaporizes in the pot. At a high rate of fuel feed the volume of gases sustains combustion in active form in the upper portion of the pot, the various bafiies all serving to direct primary and secondary air into admixture with the gases and flame. At various degrees of turn down, the flame burns at certain zones or positions below the top of the device due to the centralizing effect of the baffles on the gases and inrushing air currents. The zone or position in which flame is active depends entirely upon the particular rate of fuel feed. By having baflles arranged in staggered relation I am able to effect efiicient combustion vat intermediate turn down ratios between the highest and lowest rates of feed, the baffles serving to confine the flame, avoiding all possibility of the flames flickering and going out. At all stages there is obtained a perfect flame indicating complete combustion. In actual practice I have been able to obtain as high a turn down ratio as 10 to l, with highly efficient combustion.

An important advantage of my invention is that the number of baflles and vertical distances,

therebetween may be readily changed in an obvious manner to permit different stages of turndown. Also, the baffles may be removed and bafiles of different. shape and size substituted therefor. Such removability also facilitates cleaning.

Various changes coming within the spirit of my invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art, and hence I do not wish to be limited to the specific form shown or uses mentioned, except to the extent indicated in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted as broadly as the state of the art will permit.

L I claim:

1. In a device of the class described and in combination, a pot like container for the burning of liquid fuel, said container having means for introducing fuel into the lower portion thereof and a plurality of vertically staggered removable baflie members arranged within said container, said baffle members defining a central passage for the products of combustion, said container also having openings for the admission of air below and between said baflles.

2. In a device of the class described and in combination, a pot like container for the burning of liquid fuel, said container having means for introducing fuel into the lower portion thereof, and a plurality of vertically. staggered baflie members arranged Within saidcontainer, said baflie members defining a central passage for the products of combustion, said container also having openings for the admission of air below and between said baflles, said baflles being removable from the container as a. unit.

baflles and having means for the introduction of fuel into the lower portion thereof.

4. In a device of the class described and in combination, a pot like container for the burning of liquid fuel, and a plurality of segmental annular baflle plates arranged in staggered relation therein, said pot having perforations in its side walls for admission of air below each of said bafiles and having means for the introduction of fuel into the lower portion thereof, said baflies being mounted for removal from said pot.

5. In a device of the class described and in combination, a pot like container for the burning of liquid fuel, said container having a central opening at the top and having means for introducing fuel into the lower portion thereof, and a plurality of staggered bafiles defining a relatively large substantially uninterrupted vertical central passage and a substantially uninterrupted relatively narrow vertical annular passage adjacent the inside of the container wall, said container being provided with means for the introduction of fuel adjacent the bottom thereof and with openings for the admission of air below and between said baffles.

6. In a device of the class described and in combination, a pot like container for the burning of liquid fuel, said container having a central opening at the top and having means for introducing fuel into the lower portion thereof, and a plurality of staggered baffles defining a relatively large substantially uninterrupted central. vertical passage and a substantially uninterrupted relatively narrow vertical annular passage adjacent the inside of the container wall, said container being provided with openings for the admission ,of air below and between said baflies, said baflies being mounted for removal as a unit from said container.

7. In a device of the class described and in combination, a pot like container for the burning of liquid fuel, said container having a central opening at the top and having means for introducing fuel into the lower portion thereof, and a plurality of vertically staggered baflle plates arranged within said container, said baffle members defining a central passage for the products of combustion, said bafiles being mounted for removal individually and as a unit from said container, and said container also having openings for the admission of air below and between said baflles.

8. In a device of the class described and in combination, a pot like container for the bum-' openings for the admission of air below and between said baflies.

9.'In a device of the class described and in combination, a pot like container for the burning of liquid fuel, said container having a central opening at the top and having a plurality of baifle members arranged within said container, each of said baflle members being a segment of an annular plate and defining an are not substantially greater than about 90, a plurality of such baiiles being arranged at a plurality of levels within said container, the baflles at each level being in substantial registry with the openings between the baiiles of the next adjacent level, said containers having means for the introduction of fuel into the lower portion thereof and having openings for'the admission of air below and between said baffles, said baffles being mounted for removal individually and as a unit.

10. In a device of the class described, in combination, a pot-like container for burning fluid fuel, the wall of said container being provided with a plurality of air inlet apertures located at various levels, and a baffle unit located within said container, said unit including a plurality of generally upright supports and a plurality of segmental and vertically staggered baiile members mounted on said supports, said b'aille members being located at levels above the lowest and below the highest of said air inlet apertures, said baflle members defining a central generally ver tical passage. v

11. In a device of the class described, in combination, apot-like container for burning fluid fuel, the wall of said container being provided with a plurality of air inlet apertures located at various levels; and a baille unit located within said container, said unit including a plurality of generally upright supports and a plurality of segmental and vertically staggered baille members mounted on said supports, said baflle members being located at-levels above the lowest and below the highest of said air inlet apertures, said baiiie members defining a central generally vertical passage, said baliie members being arranged with a pair of diametrically opposed baiile units at each of a plurality of levels, the units in each said level being staggered in relation to the units at adjacent levels.

12, In a device of the class described, in combination, a pot-like container for burning fluid oil, said container having air inlet apertures at various levels in the wall thereof, and a unitarily removable baflle unit located within said container, including a plurality of generally upright, supports, and a plurality of segmental and vertically staggered baflle members defining a central generally vertical passage, said bafile members each subtending an are slightly in excess of ninety degrees, said baflle members being arranged in pairs with a pair of diametrically opposed baflie members at each of a plurality of levels, the members in each level being staggered in relation to the corresponding members of adjacent levels, and spacing sleeves, threaded upon said uprights, interposed between the vertically spaced bafile units, said spacing sleeves and baiile members being removable from said upright supports.

13. In a device of the class described, in combination, a pot-like container for burning fluid 011, said container having air inlet apertures at various levels in the wall thereof, and a unitarily removable baille unit located within said container, including a plurality of generally upright supports, and a plurality of segmental and vertically staggered baflle members defining a central generally vertical passage, said baflie members each subtending an are slightly in excess of ninety degrees, said baflie members being arranged in pairs with a pair of diametrically opposed baflie members at each of a plurality of levels, the members in each level being staggered in relation to the corresponding members of adjacent levels, and spacing sleeves, threaded upon said uprights, interposed between the vertically spaced bailie units, said spacing sleeves and baflie members being removable from said upright supports, each individual baflle member having spacing means adapted to space it inwardly from the container wall, whereby air is permitted to flow upwardly about the outer edge of each such baffle member. 

